Method of making tampons



J 1949' Y J. R. cRocKFoRb METHOD OF MAKING TAMPON S Filed Dec.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. J (1/ Byasepk H, Crow/37E @Ziorzg;

1949- J..,R. CROCKFORD METHOD OF MAKING TAMPONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1945 Illllll Ill IllflllllllIIIIIIIIII'IIIIII"! II VIII!!! INVENTOR. JZraeyah EQwc Zfori/ rrlfy Patented Jan. 11, 1949 METHOD OF MAKING TAMPONS Joseph R. Crockford, New York, N. Y., assignor to Harry Radzinsky and Sidney W. Dean, Jr., both of New York, N. Y.

Application December 14, 1945, Serial No. 634,952

8 Claims.

This invention relates to tampons and more particularly to the type employed during the menstrual period. The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for manufacturing the same.

The invention especially relates to a. method for producing a tampon composed in whole or in part of cellulose or viscose sponge materials, or of other materials of similar characteristics, a tampon of this character being shown in my Patent No. 2,254,272, dated September 2, 1941. An object of the present invention is to provide a simplified method, by which a tampon of such material or of other material, can be rapidly made in quantity and at a minimum of manufacturing cost.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved assembling method whereby tampons can be speedily and effectively inserted in applicators of the telescopic type, namely, those in which a plunger slidably fits within a tube in which the tampon is contained.

These and other objects are attained by the invention, a more particular description of which will hereinafter appear and be set forth in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shows a strip of cellulose or viscose sponge or other material of similar characteristics, indicating how the tampon bodies are cut therefrom;

Fig, 2 is a face view of one of the tampon bodies with the withdrawal string attached to the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a tampon body engaged by a forked holder constituting a part of the tampon-compressing means;

Fig. 5 shows a tampon body held by the rotating forked holder and about to be inserted into the compressing tube;

Fig. 6 shows how the tampon body is compressed within the compressing tube;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the compressed tampon;

Fig. 8 is a side view, with parts in section, of the means for inserting the tampon into its ap-' plicator;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view through the means for inserting the tampon in an applicator;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged side view of the tampon in its applicator;

Fig. 12 is a face view of a modified form of tampon body, and

material or a material of generally similar characteristics, and for simplicity and economy in manufacture, the body of the tampon may be stamped out or cut from sheet sponge, preferably in strip form, and preferably, but not necessarily, the width of a tampon. Such a strip is disclosed at I in Fig. l and by being severed on the diagonal lines 2 extending transversely of the strip I the wedge-shaped tampon bodies 3 may be very rapidly and economically cut from the strip without material waste. When out from the strip, each tampon body consists of a relatively fiat but fairly thick sheet 3 which is wider at one end than at the other, the wider end 5 being the top or head of the tampon, the narrower end 4 being the bottom or rear end. In other words, the tampon body is preferably of wedge or socalled keystone shape. I have found it desirable to form the'bodies of-the tampons into this shape because such a shape not only tends to prevent accidental dislodgement of the tampon from the vaginal cavity but it also presents the greater mass of absorbent material where it is most needed, namely, at the entrance to the uterus.

To a tampon body of the shape described is secured a withdrawal string in any suitable manner, an example of a suitable means of attachment being by the extension of a line of stitching 6 down the center of the tampon body as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the stitching-being continued beyond the narrower end 4 of the tampon for a sufficient length to provide a flowing or free end 1 used as a pull string by which the tampon is withdrawn from the vaginal orifice.

The tampon body, in either the form shown in Fig. 2, or of other suitable shape, is next engaged by a suitable rotating holder, such as the member 8, which is bifurcated or forked to produce the spaced prongs 9 which frictionally or otherwise engage or grip the tampon body between them and firmly hold it along its center line, while the holder 8 is then rotated about its longitudinal axis. While the tampon body 3 is so held and is being rotated while in the grip of the holder 8, it is inserted within a compressing tube, which is provided at its mouth or entrance end with a conical portion in facilitating the insertion of the tampon into it. As the tampon is moved downwardly while being rotated, it passes from the conical portion In into the reduceddiameter portion ll of the compressing tube, the internal diameter of the latter being that to which the tampon is to be compressed. It will be obvious that when the tampon is rotated within the portion ll of the compressing tube, the tampon will be rolled up and compressed into a cylindrical body conforming in diameter to the interior of the tubular portion ll of the com pressing tube, the resultant tampon being shown in Fig. '7.

While the tampon body so compressed will be of uniformly cylindrical shape due to its conformation to the interior of the tube ,1 l, certain.

portions of the tampon body will have been com.- pressed more than others, due to the use of more material in the first-mentioned. parts. That is to say, the wider end porti'o'n'fi of the tampon having more material in it than the. narrower end 4, it is obyious that the end will rsql i qis he moreoom r ssed. than the narrower end to result in theformation of a cylindrical body of uniform diameter. On the other hand, the wider end of the tampon, after being n ortg the vasinaaed. su ec d t the strual f ouwili spread to itsnorrnal width and wi P 7956131? h reatest a ea. at e t on where. it is most required, namely, at the entranoe to the uterus, Moreover, the wedge shape of e. t mp bQQY i l 11 1 1 o d. i rely within the v gina and preventits accidental disds'emsnt roi ma he cqmgrsss dl nrolledam on, shown in Fig. Ifis re d-yfor; use, and can be inserted in e ina 9 3. 1 8, .81-th llsii s,iti rositio with thefingers or it may be. inserted in an applicatorwhichincludesaplunger by means of which atam n. is expel ed rom ts applicator and into the; vagina An applioator of this charactor usually consists of a larger-diameter sleeve ortube 22 ofcardboard onshnilar material and containing ,the tampon and a smaller-diameter push-tube or plunger 23,. also of cardboard, said plunger b eing arranged telescopically in relation Q- e he, smaller ube c n ti thev meansi'by which the tarnpon is; expelled from the, tube 122.

In Figs. 8; and lqis shown-the means by w i hih 'ns e t n-f e expedi u n e in applicators of the character ,justdescribed. ms ns i luds a. p rt n b e a or other fletsvppgri 'Hmm hicha sleeve M arises, the sleeve having a base fiar ge H by means of Which it is fastened to the top, of the table [8. Located crmcentricallywithin the sleeve 14 and spaced from the inner wall surfaces thereof, is a smaller-diameter sleeve 2!],

the. spacing. of ,the same from the,: inside of the outer sleeve l4 providing an annular chamber- 2|(Fig. 9) to. closely accommodate one of the tubes 23. in an upright position.

The inner sleeve 20 extendsthrough the table l8 to the under side thereof, said sleeve 26 beingprovided with the flange 24 by'means of which it is secured to the under surface of the table and having a nipple portion 251-f01 attachment to a one of the tubes 22 to be drawn, down through the sleeve 2i and consequently. through the plunger sleeve 23 which surrounds sleeve 28.

When thetampons are to be inserted intotu.

u a? pli ato s. t charact r ib d. 1

possibly of other construction, a compressing device as shown in Fig. 10 may be employed. Such a compressing device may be similar to that shown in Figs. 5 and 6 but may be provided with a flared end is adapted to fit over the end of an applicator tube 22 which is placed around the upper end of the sleeve 20, and the plunger or. push-tube 23 then disposed between the sleeve wand the outer sleeve M. It will be noted that the sleeve I4 is provided at its top with a radial flange 18 upon which the tube 22 rests while the tampon is being inserted within the same.

In carrying out-the procedure of inserting a tampon in the applicator, one of the plunger tubes 23 is first dropped in place in the annular chamber 2! located between the sleeves M and 26 and it comes to rest upon the top of the table it with a portion of it projecting above the top or flanged end N3 of the sleeve M. The inner sleeve 28, rises above the top of the table I3 for av distance equal to the length of .the upwardly projecting part of the plunger tube 23, so that said inner sleeve also, projects above the top of the outer,sleeve. l 4

Next, a cardboard applicator tube 221s placed about the protruding portion ofthe tube 23, the tube iiihaving its lower end brought to rest on the flange it and standing upright. The compressing tube is then brought downwardly to bring its flared end !'3 over the open top of the applicator tube 22, and a plunger 12, which may be the forked member, 8, forces the tampon 3 out;..of; the. tubal l and down into the applicator tube 222. to an, extent permitted by the upper ends of the sleeve 20 and tube M or either of. them if one of them extends upwardly more than the oth. The parts of the device inthe positions just described are. shown in Fig; 10,

Whilethe. tampon is; being inserted into the applicator, or perhaps at, the ends of the insert.- ing stroke of the plunger: l2, the suction-exerting means is set in operationto create the exertionof suction throughthe tube 26 to thereby drawthe string ldown through the sleeve 20 as shown in Fig. 10. Thegresult of this is that when the filledaapplicator, consisting of the tubes 22 a r;1d 23 with the tampon in the tube 22, is removed-from the supports l4, 2d, the string i will be found. to be, protruding from the endof the smaller tube 253 as shown in Fig. 11.

It willbe clear from the foregoing, that the operation of inserting a tampon into an applicator may be speedily and accurately performed by the means described. In carrying out the operation, a tube 23, is droppedinto the annular chamber 2i untilit comes to. rest upon the surfacesof the table i'8=.at, the bottom of the chamber 28; The upper end portion of the tube 23 will then be found to be extendingabove the top of tube I4 to the heightof the p rojectingv part of the sleeve 20 shownin Fig 8. Next a tube 22;

isslipped over the proiecting partof the tube 23 the tube 22 seating on the flange it which derminest x ant: oxw ichi t l s s with the inner tube. 2;}. 1 Whenthe two tubes 22 and; 2i;

with 'the tube 23 and the sleeve 20 serves to, limit a the. extent of insertion of thetampon withinthe tube 22 and such insertion is preferabiy madeto,

such an extent as to allow a relatively small porticn of the end of the tampon to protrude above the top of the tube 23, as indicated at 27 in Fig. 11. Since the tendency of the compressed sponge material is to expand, this projecting part 21 of the sponge will spread or expand slightly thus forming a protecting soft and compressible head that flares over the upper edge 28 of the tube this part shielding said edge and preventing it from harshly contacting with the walls of the vagina when inserted therein.

After the tampon has been inserted into the tube 22, the compressing tube It and its plunger member ii? ascends so that the two tubes 22 and with the tampon contained within the tube 22, can be lifted as a unit to be packed in a suitable container, Cellophane-wrapped or otherwise suitably packaged.

While I have herein described the tampon as being of a certain wedge or keystone shape and having its withdrawal string attached in a particular manner, it will be obvious that these details of construction may be altered materially. For example, in Figs 12 and 13 the tampon is shown as being composed of a piece of sheet'like cellulose sponge material transversely folded or doubled upon itself on the line 33 to form a body of double thickness, the two thicknesses of the body being indicated respectively at 3% and 35. The withdrawal string 33 is looped about the body as shown in Fig. 13 and thereafter the compres sion and insertion of the tampon into an applicator may be had as described with respect to the tampon body of Fig. 2.

What I claim is:

1. In the method of making tampons, the step of centrally supporting a wedge or keystoneshaped, flat section of sponge-like material and guiding it into and rotating it within a compressing and forming tube to form it into a cylinder of substantially uniform diameter.

2. In the method of making tampons, the steps of centrally supporting a wedge or keystoneshaped, fiat section of sheet material of absorbent nature, guiding it into and rotating it within a cylindrical compressing and forming tube and then forcing the tampon, then in compressed cylindrical form, out of the tube.

3. In the method of making tampons, the steps of supporting a wedge or keystone-shaped, flat section of absorbent sheet material, guiding it into and rotating it while forcing it into a cylindrical compressing tube and forcing it out of said tube and directly therefrom into a tubular applicator body.

4. In the method of making a tampon, the steps of cutting a flat, relatively thick section from a sheet of sponge-like material and twisting said section inside of a conical guide and therefrom into a cylindrical tube to form it into cylindrical shape and then projecting it out of said tube and directly into a cardboard applicator tube.

5. In the method of making a tampon, the steps of cutting a flat, relatively thick wedgeshaped tampon body from a sheet of compressible, absorbent material, applying a pull-string to the tampon body, guiding the tampon into and rotating the tampon within a cylindrical compressing-tube to thereby fold parts of the body and compress the body into cylindrical shape, and inserting the cylindrical body within a cardboard tube.

6. In the method of making tampons, the steps of forming a tampon into a flat, substantially wedge-shaped body, gripping said body and guiding the same into and rotating the same within a cylindrical former to thereby compress it into a cylinder of substantially uniform diameter, supporting a pair of tubes in an upstanding position with one of the tubes having a part projecting above the top of the other tube, and inserting the compressed tampon into the projecting part of said one tube.

7. In the method of making tampons, the steps of transversely severing a sheet of sponge material into a plurality of wedge-shaped sections, applying a withdrawal string to each of said sections, gripping each section and rotating the section, inserting the section into a guide and therefrom into a tubular passage while the section is being rotated to thereby compress the section and cause it to conform in shape to the interior of said passage, supporting an applicator tube and an inner push-tube in an upstanding position while said tubes are arranged telescopically and with a part of the applicator tube arising above the top of the push-tube, and forcing the compressed tampon section from the passage and into the applicator tube.

8. In a method of making tampons as provided for in claim 7 and including the step of suctionally drawing down the free end of the withdrawal string through the push-tube while the tampon is being inserted into the applicator tube.

JOSEPH R. CROCKF'ORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 670,182 Manula Mar. 19, 1901 836,123 Lungren Nov. 20, 1906 1,887,526 Spielberg Nov. 15, 1932 2,024,218 Haas Dec. 17, 1935 2,076,389 Voss Apr. 6, 1937 2,225,026 Welsh Dec. 17, 1940 2,298,913 Arden et al Oct. 13, 1942 2,330,257 Bailey Sep. 28, 1943 2,361,783 McLaughlin Oct. 31, 1944 2,386,590 Calhoun Oct. 9, 1945 

